Jakarta, ThedailyID — Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged US President Donald Trump to involve Chinese President Xi Jinping in negotiations over the war in Ukraine. Putin proposed trilateral talks involving the three leaders to discuss a possible resolution to the conflict, according to Anadolu Agency.
Putin reportedly raised the proposal during a phone call with Trump on October 9, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report cited a former Russian intelligence officer familiar with the discussions.
The Kremlin has also suggested holding the meeting as early as November, potentially on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November 18–19 in Shenzhen, China.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions about a possible meeting were underway. However, he said the three sides had yet to agree on the format or agenda.
“There is no clear understanding of the meeting itself or its potential agenda,” Peskov told The Wall Street Journal. He added that all three parties acknowledged the theoretical possibility of such a meeting.
A senior US official said Trump had not approved the proposal. However, the US president could be open to the idea as he seeks to fulfill his campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine.
The former Russian intelligence officer also said Putin had previously proposed trilateral talks with Trump and Xi on several occasions.
The reported discussions extend beyond diplomacy. According to The Wall Street Journal, the October 9 phone call also produced an agreement for the United States to purchase Russian diesel fuel and facilitate its sale in global markets.
The reported arrangement comes as the Trump administration seeks to ease fuel prices that have placed pressure on the US economy and the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump also suspended the implementation of sanctions against Russia on Friday, following legislation he signed the previous month, according to the report.
However, a trilateral summit remains uncertain, with no confirmed agreement on whether the meeting will take place or what issues the leaders would address.
